Flock CEO defends surveillance technology amid national backlash: ‘We shouldn’t pause progress’

Flock CEO Garrett Langley maintains that the advantages of surveillance technology outweigh the risks, even as backlash mounts. Speaking at a TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 panel, Langley dismissed questions about criticism and contract cancellations, instead sharing anecdotes from police leaders and boasting about the number of crimes Flock cameras have allegedly solved.

He argued that if people want a safer society, they must sacrifice their privacy. Langley likened the acceptance of surveillance technology to the adoption of other advancements like driverless cars, insisting that society should address problems as they arise rather than pausing progress entirely. He emphasized that Flock will not dictate policy to city leaders, offering only suggestions and default settings.

The CEO also faced criticism for Flock's alleged role in misinformation leading to contract terminations, such as a customer believing the devices had facial recognition capabilities. Langley defended his technology against perfectionist critiques, acknowledging his own mistakes and attributing the sentiment that technology should not be judged against perfection to an unnamed community leader.

Additionally, Langley positioned Flock as a solution to understaffed police departments, stating that the company aims to help fill the gaps left by declining law enforcement employment. However, when confronted with concerns about abuse and the invasive nature of his surveillance technology, Langley did not provide concrete solutions, claiming that addressing abuse should not disrupt the legal system or the effectiveness of police operations.